OpenTrade Appoints Former Swift CEO Lazaro Campos as Chairman to Scale Stablecoin Infrastructure

London-based OpenTrade has appointed former Swift chief executive Lazaro Campos as chairman, signaling a major bridge between traditional banking leadership and the stablecoin ecosystem. This move comes as the startup surpasses $1 billion in transaction volume, highlighting the growing institutional appetite for yield-bearing digital assets backed by real-world financial instruments.

What was announced

OpenTrade provides the underlying infrastructure that enables fintech companies, digital wallets, and cryptocurrency exchanges to offer dollar- and euro-denominated returns on stablecoin balances. These returns are generated through investments in real-world assets, allowing businesses to provide yield without the need to develop proprietary investment systems. The appointment of Lazaro Campos follows a period of rapid growth for the firm, which was founded in 2023. OpenTrade reports that its transaction volume has exceeded $1 billion over the last 12 months, a significant jump from the $250 million reported in May.

The company’s total value locked (TVL)—representing the assets deposited on its platform—currently stands at $300 million, up from $200 million earlier this year. This expansion is supported by $32 million in total funding to date, including a $17 million round closed in May. Campos, who led Swift for five years, brings experience from a network that connects 11,000 institutions globally and moves up to $1.5 quadrillion annually. During his tenure at Swift, transaction volumes nearly doubled. His background also includes roles on the Bank of England’s Real-Time Gross Settlement infrastructure and the CHAPS board. He currently serves as the chairman of Payoneer Europe and was previously a board member at digital bank Starling.

The companies involved

OpenTrade is a London-based financial technology firm that bridges the gap between traditional finance and digital assets. The company’s platform is designed for institutional and business use, focusing on the "real-world asset" segment of the blockchain industry. OpenTrade is backed by a group of prominent venture capital firms, including Notion Capital, which has extensive experience in the European fintech sector, and Mercury Fund. The company also received investment from a16z crypto, the digital asset arm of Andreessen Horowitz, as well as AlbionVC and CMCC Global.

The leadership team is headed by Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder David Sutter. The firm’s strategy centers on providing a regulated and transparent way for businesses to earn yield on stablecoins, which are increasingly viewed as a viable medium for global money movement. By positioning itself as an infrastructure provider, OpenTrade serves other financial institutions rather than competing for retail users. This B2B approach is supported by the expertise of its new chairman, Lazaro Campos, who has held significant roles within the UK’s payment infrastructure, including the CHAPS board.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has previously tracked the investment activity of OpenTrade’s backers, particularly CMCC Global. The firm recently participated in a strategic funding round for Saber Money Secures Strategic Funding from Tether to Revolutionize Emerging Market Payments, which focused on emerging market payments. Additionally, CMCC Global was a key investor in Raven Trading Hits $90M Valuation to Dominate Prediction Market Liquidity. These reports underscore the active role that OpenTrade’s investors are playing in the evolution of digital asset infrastructure and the integration of blockchain technology into broader financial services.

What this means

The transition of a high-profile banking veteran like Lazaro Campos to a stablecoin-focused firm marks a shift in how the traditional financial establishment views digital assets. It suggests that stablecoins are no longer viewed merely as speculative tools but as legitimate components of global payment infrastructure. This move puts pressure on traditional treasury management services and legacy cross-border payment providers to justify their costs and speeds. For the fintech sector, the success of platforms like OpenTrade raises questions about the long-term role of traditional banks in providing yield, as decentralized infrastructure begins to offer comparable security with greater operational efficiency.